DoT Plans Drone, Balloon Trials for 5G Emergency Connectivity

June 1, 2024

Currently, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is looking into new ways to use drones and tethered balloons to quickly restore 5G connection after emergencies and natural disasters. In these kinds of situations, normal internet services can get interrupted, and this strategy is meant to fix that problem. This project’s viability will be tested in the coming months, and a choice is expected by June of the following year.

Trial and Purpose

DoT is in charge of the trials that will use tethered kites and drones to test how temporary 5G networks can be set up in real life. These are designed to provide mobile service in emergencies, such as natural disasters and accident sites that are far away. The project shows a shift toward more flexible and quick-to-respond telecom options in disaster-prone areas.

Balloon and Drone Use in Telecom

In the event of a disaster, setting up these flying devices is much easier than building new mobile sites. The balloons and drones can use the telcos’ current spectrum and get their power from backup or solar sources. This makes it easier to set up and deploy.

Coordination and Infrastructure Sharing

When a disaster affects network connectivity, the DoT works with all the important groups, such as telecom operators, to get services back up and running as soon as possible. In this case, temporary mobile networks may need to be set up or broken ones may need to be fixed. Also, there is a rule that all telecom providers must share infrastructure. This makes sure that users can connect to any live tower in the affected area, no matter who owns the tower.

Power Supply Concerns

Damage to power sources is a common reason why networks go down during disasters. As a preventative step, the government has told telecom companies to keep power backups. Rules also say that providers must keep a minimum stock of portable base stations and satellite connectivity gear so that services can be restored quickly. More changes to come People think that the DoT’s use of drones and balloons in disaster response systems is a big step forward in making telecoms more resilient. The department wants to make sure that people can always connect by using more than just standard infrastructure and the newest technology. This is an important part of modern disaster management and relief operations.

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